Max Scharping brings veteran versatility to ailing Steelers offensive line
Beset by injury at virtually every spot along their offensive line, the Pittsburgh Steelers added a veteran who can play every position in the unit.
“As of this preseason I have now played every position on the O-line,” Max Scharping said during his first full day with the Steelers on Wednesday. “So, wherever they need me to fill in, I will do my best do to that.”
The Steelers lost their then first-team center (Nate Herbig) to a season-ending injury in mid-August, lost their rookie starting right tackle (Troy Fautanu) to a long-term injury during Week 3 and their veteran right guard (James Daniels) for the season this past Sunday. They also have been without their starting left guard (Isaac Seumalo) for their four games so far this season, and top backup tackle Dylan Cook has not practiced for more than a month and remains on injured reserve.
The attrition compelled the Steelers to sign Scharping off the practice squad of the Washington Commanders on Tuesday.
A six-year veteran of 79 career NFL regular-season games, the 28-year-old Scharping was cut at the end of the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp. Pending the status of Seumalo — he returned to practice last week — Scharping could serve as the top backup on the interior offensive line as soon as Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
“It’s really about getting onboard as quickly as possible,” Scharping said before Wednesday’s practice, “learn the offense as quickly as possible and just get to know the guys.
“Obviously, as an O-lineman trust is pretty key when you are working with four other guys. So I’m just trying to get on the same page with everybody and try to work in as seamlessly as possible.”
A second-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2019, Scharping also played two seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals. All of his regular-season starting experience is at guard (both sides), but he has gotten into games at center and tackle. During three preseason games for the Eagles in August, Scharping played exclusively and extensively at left tackle.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.